Why Do Christians Assemble?
Christians worship God every day by the way they live. Yet the New Testament also places great importance on believers assembling together.
Why?
The first Christians did not gather simply because it was a religious tradition. They gathered because Jesus had made them one body, and they needed one another.
The writer of Hebrews urged Christians,
"Do not forsake the assembling of yourselves together...but encourage one another." (Hebrews 10:25)
The assembly was a time for mutual encouragement, especially during times of difficulty.
The book of Acts tells us that the early Christians
"continued steadfastly in the apostles' teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers." (Acts 2:42)
Their gatherings centered on learning God's Word, remembering Christ, praying together, and sharing life with one another.
Paul adds another important principle.
Writing about the assembly in Corinth, he repeatedly reminds them that everything they do should be done
"for the edification of the church." (1 Corinthians 14:26)
That one statement helps explain much of what happened when Christians met together.
They gathered to strengthen one another.
As we continue through the New Testament, we find Christians singing, praying, remembering the Lord's death, giving to help the work of the church, hearing God's Word taught, and encouraging one another to remain faithful.
The assembly was never intended to be a performance with a few people doing everything while everyone else watched.
It was a gathering of God's people, each encouraging the others as they worshiped and served together.
Understanding the purpose of the assembly helps us understand everything else we will study in this course.
Before asking how Christians worshiped when they assembled, we should first understand why they assembled.
Continue Your Study
What Does the New Testament Teach About Singing?
Why did the early Christians sing?
Who was being addressed in their songs?
And what can we learn from the passages that speak about singing in the church?
Related Bible Studies
What Is Worship?
How Does God Reveal His Will?
What Does the Bible Teach About Silence?
Companion Video
Why Do Christians Assemble?
Read First. Conclude Later.